Motion controller provides complete control, monitoring

The Drives and Motion Division of Yaskawa America has announced the release of the MP2600iec motion controller. The controller provides motion control of 1 or 1.5 axis along with machine control. The controller extends the MP product family, which now includes three controllers covering the range from 1 to 16 axes.

For many machine control applications, the MP2600iec machine controller can provide complete control and monitoring, eliminating the need for a separate PLC or other low-level controller. The MP2600iec motion controller provides machine control and monitoring via 15 discrete inputs, 11 discrete outputs, one analog input and one analog output. All of these inputs and outputs can be controlled via execution of any of the five IEC61131-3 programming languages.

Interface to automation, monitoring and control systems external to the machine are provided by the discrete and analog I/O, or via the EtherNet/IP and Modbus/TCP digital networks. An optional OPC server allows for the transfer of real time data over Ethernet from the machine process to the factory network. The MP2600iec motion controller also includes full Web server capability, allowing access to the controller from any standard web browser.

The entire family of MP controllers including the MP2600iec controller is programmed with Yaskawa’s MotionWorks IEC software, either MotionWorks IEC Express or MotionWorks IEC Pro. MotionWorks IEC Express allows programming in Ladder Diagram, Structured Text, and Function Block and is well suited for less complex machines that require only one task. MotionWorks IEC Pro has all the features of Express, but also offers 16 prioritized tasks. It also gives users easier control of machine states via Sequential Function Chart, and it includes Instruction List programming.

Both MotionWorks IEC Express and Pro encourage the programmer to take advantage of the best of several programming languages within one development package. Ladder Logic is perfect for representing digital sensory data. Structured Text is a great solution for mathematical algorithms and assignments, and Function Block is best suited for motion control. These languages seamlessly and predictably cooperate with one another. Variables and outputs from a program structure can be referenced by other programs, providing the ultimate automation development environment.

The MP2600iec motion controller combines execution of all five IEC61131-3 programming languages, pre-programmed PLCopen function blocks and support for the most widely used digital communications networks into one compact and low-priced 1/1.5 axis controller. For many machines, the MP2600iec motion controller can provide complete control and monitoring, eliminating the need for a separate PLC or other low-level controller.

Annual Salary Survey

Before the calendar turned, 2016 already had the makings of a pivotal year for manufacturing, and for the world.

There were the big events for the year, including the United States as Partner Country at Hannover Messe in April and the 2016 International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago in September. There's also the matter of the U.S. presidential elections in November, which promise to shape policy in manufacturing for years to come.

But the year started with global economic turmoil, as a slowdown in Chinese manufacturing triggered a worldwide stock hiccup that sent values plummeting. The continued plunge in world oil prices has resulted in a slowdown in exploration and, by extension, the manufacture of exploration equipment.